Lincoln is a cathedral city in the county of Lincolnshire, East Midlands, England, built on a limestone escarpment above the River Witham and home to about 100,000 people. Its historic core occupies the old Roman fortress of Lindum Colonia, later expanded by Viking traders and prosperous medieval wool merchants.
At the summit of the ridge overlooking the town stands Lincoln Cathedral, begun in 1072, shortly after the Norman Conquest and rebuilt after an earthquake in 1185. Its central spire made it the tallest structure in the world for nearly 240 years before its collapse.
The cathedral still dominates the uphill quarter of the city of Bailgate, Castle Square and Steep Hill. And yes, it really is a steep walk up to the cathedral and the old town area — well worth the effort!
We visited on a wet day in July 2023 when there was a science fair in the Nave and much of the cathedral wasn’t accessible. I appreciated having such a modern event inside the medieval nave though, as it showed the central place of the cathedral still remains in the life of the city.
We entered through Exchequer Gate, the 14th‑century triple‑arched gateway that opens from Castle Square into the cathedral close.
A biblical narrative frieze stretches across the west front. The most heavily weathered originals were replaced with hand‑carved replicas in 2001 and the sculptures moved indoors for protection.
